Nano Tank

[Rubyuk]

Hi Guys

I have an established 180 litre tank that I established two years ago with your help.

I'm now setting up a 40 litre cube tank measuring approx 34cm x 34cm x 40 cm in height. Its the aqua 40 cube.

I dont think cycling should be a problem as I have plenty of mature filter in my main tank that I can use to help out.

My main question was help/advice with stocking suggestions.

In an ideal world I'd like some dwarf shrimp varieties (i keep Amanos in my main community tank but when I tried cherry shrimp once..you've guessed it...they got eaten.

A;long with shrimp,if possible i'd like some bottom dwelling fish, then a shoal of small midwater fish and then again if possible a single 'feature' fish or pair to finish the display off.

I know stocking will be limited which is why I'm after your creative ideas.

I've seen some pygmy cory cats and have fallen in love with them so i think they will be my bottom dwelling fish if possible.

As a 'feature' single fish I was toying with the idea of a male betta as my partner loves them and has always wanted one but i've never had the chance given the occupants of my 180l tank.

I know they can have different temperements and some bettas will get along with some smaller fish whereas someone else may have tried with the exact same combination that hasn't worked with their betta.

I believe there are plenty of small shoaling fish that could be homed with a betta?

I've seen some celestial pearl danios in a large tank with pygmy cories and crystal red shrimp and all three of those cominations are on my radar but i'm not sure if a betta would fit in? Maybe with the CPD's but not sure about any dwarf shrimps and i dont want amanos in the 40l tank.

Are there any other combinations that would work with a male better or if ruling the betta out as a bad idea any other stocking suggestions that would/could work with pygmy cories and dwarf shrimp?

Thanks in advance for your ideas guys

 

[Rubyuk]

Any help guys....pretty please

 

[Newbie_87]

Hey, we to have a nano tank which is now fully stocked (sadly) we tried a Betta as part of a community but it didn't work out...he now has his own tank and is doing really well. Bettas can be agressive to other fish and certain smaller fish species will nip their fins so it's probably best to avoid one; you'll have a lot more choice if you do

With nano stocking it's a good idea to keep your choices limited to fish no longer than 3cm. Dwarf corys, rasbora brigittina, dwarf rasbora, ember tetras or celestial danios are all great little shoaling fish. If you do decide to go ahead with the celestial danios they need plenty of plant cover due to their shy temperament.

For a focal point maybe consider a pair of honey gourami? Peaceful, calm fish which are likely to get on with the majority of tankmates; there are also numerous colour morphs
to choose from.

With regards to dwarf shrimp species, there's so much choice out there if your willing to look around. Cherry reds are the most sensible choice, they breed like rabbits in the right conditions and are pretty hardy. Whereas species such as the Sulawesi cardinal shrimp need very specific water conditions and suit a species only tank. There's also the option of tropical snails.

Best not forget the dwarf puffer as a possibility also, something different again..but will need a species only tank as they are aggressive.

All depends on what you want, your commitment and willingness to try new things

 

[waterdrop]

Very nice write-up by Newbie_87 - I agree with all of it. If you were to find those celestials and worked at the plants you might have a particularly pretty nano. I was saying in another thread that I saw some really beautiful ones in San Francisco. Honeys are a nice idea too! Also you can do searches for the subject of pygmy cories with oldman47 as the writer and maybe find some of his original writeups that really explain the three types well.

~~waterdrop~~